A New Way to Display

My collection of skulls arranged on top of a cabinet in my office looks pretty cool, but I decided that it could use a little spice. So I rubbed a few brain cells together and came up with this:



It looks awesome hanging on the wall, and it's a great way to display the skull along with a picture of the animal it came from. I also think it looks a lot better than The Copper Cat, which I made a couple of years ago. I had a lot of fun making this and so I'm off to the store to get more supplies! Keep your eye on my blog to see what I come up with next, though I imagine I'll probably stay with the wood theme. But you never know . . . .

A coyote is "blown" away

I realized today that it's been a month since I wrote anything here! I have been so busy with training lately that except for a few quick stands I haven't been out hunting much, and I'm sad to say that those few quick stands haven't produced anything. So I decided to drag an old story out, dust it off, and share it with you!

I have a friend who will probably want to remain anonymous after this story, so I'll make sure to give Casey a false name . . . oh dang, well I guess the cat's out of the bag now! On with the story . . . .

Casey and I headed out early one morning before dawn for a few hours of hunting not too far from my house. Our goal was to setup on the top of a hill and stay on stand for a half-hour or so in order to draw in any coyotes from the surrounding hills and deep washes. I sat above Casey, as I was doing the calling, and he sat in a really prime shooting position.

30 minutes came and 30 minutes went and I hadn't seen anything. I signalled to Casey that the stand was over, and once I received the "all clear" I stood up and looked over at him. He slowly raised himself up, stretched his arms wide and tall and then . . . . BRRRRRRPPPPPPP! He let loose with the biggest fart I may have ever heard. As he started to say "I've been holding that in for a long time" I caught movement to my right and turned my head just to see a coyote that had been on approach, and made it pretty close to us, do a full-speed 180 turn and make for the horizon. The realization that Casey's "gas attack" had scared this coyote away suddenly had me laughing me so hard that I never even raised my rifle! Through my tears, which had now come on full strength, I watched the coyote speed away down the hill and across a large opening. I walked over, slapped Casey on the back, and congratulated him on the most unique method of "blowing a coyote away" that I had ever seen.

Of course, he loves it when I tell this story. Here's to you, Casey!


This is what that coyote looked like through my tears of laughter. When he finally stopped and took a breath, I wonder what he was thinking about.

Chicken Killer, Part 2

It wasn't quite as early in the morning as I had hoped for, but I knew exactly where I wanted to be and how I wanted to set up. I slipped through a few shallow washes and into a small clearing amongst some junipers and cat claw. I had decided on using the FoxPro for this stand and I crept out into the opening and placed the caller in a small bush with my feather decoy stuck into the ground about a foot away. As I nestled under a tree with my back to some thick brush, I smiled to myself - this was a good setup, just the way I had figured it would be.

The distress noises started pouring from the e-caller with a few button presses on the remote, and it wasn't long before the birds came alive, chattering and flitting around with a certain concern in their bird calls. Soon they settled down, and as I scanned the terrain with my eyes I caught a slight movement in the far brushline - there he was. Sitting just barely in the open, I could clearly see the white fur with well-defined black spots on his front legs. He was 50 yards out and locked onto the decoy. Suddenly he stood and started stalking the decoy as the feather slowly twirled in the light breeze . . . . 40 yards . . . . patience, I tell myself. He will come closer - and he does. At 30 yards he sits near a small bush and then takes a quick look behind him. That's all the time I need to settle the red dot on his chest. Breathe out, hold, smooth trigger compression, and then . . . .

Though I don't like to hunt bobcats before fur is prime, this one has been causing trouble. If you read my last post, you'll know that I've been thinking about this cat for over a week now, ever since I became almost positive that it was the chicken killer, and that the local coyotes were not to blame. While I should go ahead and take care of a few of the coyotes in the area as well, my mission was this bobcat.

I grabbed a different rifle this morning than I usually have. If you've seen any of my hunting pictures or read my book, you'll recognize the camo-painted AR-15 with variable scope that I have been using for the last few years. However this morning I took out my "work" AR, a 16" carbine with a micro red dot mounted on it. So far I have been very pleased with this optic - it's a micro red dot from Primary Arms, a clone of the Aimpoint T-1, and it has been heavily used and abused in all weather conditions and has yet to fail me. But it hasn't seen any predator hunting yet, and I wanted to try it out on some animals. It didn't disappoint.

. . . . BOOM! The 55gr VMAX raced towards it's target, and the cat went down. After a few more minutes of calling, nothing else came in to the call, so I called off the stand and approached the cat. It had looked big sitting there, but they always do. When I got up to the cat and hefted him up, I discovered that he really was big. A curse flew through my mind as I thought of the price a cat this large would bring at the fur market had he been more furred up, but it was a passing thought. I had a chicken killer dead and down - mission accomplished.



Big paws with sharp claws.


A long tail for a bobcat, even in the summer time.


And so it begins! I'm looking forward to another predator season filled with adventure and excitement.

Chicken Killer

A friend of mine has a neighbor who has 10 chickens. Or should I say had 10 chickens - now there are only 2 left. This is pretty common around here since a lot of people have small pets or small livestock and don't always get them properly secured. The neighbor believes it was from coyotes, but I have other theories. It is true that there are coyotes in the area, but they travel through that area more than live there and while I have seen and killed coyotes in the vicinity of said neighbor's house, I knew that the coyote always gets the bad rap when it can be something else to blame.

Often it's raccoons or bobcats when people think it's coyotes, and even though it had been a couple of weeks since the 'attack' I drove out there to take a look. Since some of the chickens were not carried off, my mind went back to a few other times I have solved predator problems for people. This seemed like the work of a cat.

So off I went into the nearby brush, checking in washes and along the narrow dirt trails. Not a single coyote track in the recent mud, but there they were - a little faint, but they were bobcat tracks. After walking around for about 30 minutes I was now about 1/4 mile from the house, and on a patch of dirt road I found a nice pile of bobcat scat.



What makes this pile so nice, you ask? Check the upper right corner. That's right - part of a chicken foot. Now you don't have to be on CSI to figure this one out, and picking through the scat a little more I found feather fragments and more parts of chicken feet. The point of all this is to say that a little scouting can go a long way, and that coyotes, while devious and crafty, are not always the culprits of missing pets or dead livestock. I'm pretty tempted to put a game camera up near the chickens and in the wash nearby and I'd wager that I'd catch a picture of a bobcat on it.

Bobcat season opens exactly 1 week from now, and you can bet your camouflage that I'll be out there, trying to trick ol' bob into coming a little closer.

Urban Predators: more than just "cute and fuzzy"

"The bobcats are so beautiful", "coyotes are native to this area and should be left alone", and "live and let live, that's what I say." I've heard it all when it comes to hunting predators in urban and even rural areas. Many people enjoy the native wildlife in their backyard - I know I really love to see animals any chance I get. It's why I hike, camp, hunt, and spend all the time I can in the outdoors.

But then Fluffy disappears. Fido goes missing. The call goes out "My pet is lost! Someone help!" No my friend, your pet is not lost. It's lunch. And then the fury comes from Bowser's owner: "Why hasn't someone done something about these darn coyotes?!" It always turns out the same way - some pet (or some person) gets hurt or worse, and then suddenly the animals are the bad guys. Here in Arizona I saw the following news stories all happen in just one week. It starts like this . . . .

Hot Weather Brings Coyotes to Central Phoenix

Couple Catches Baby Bobcats on Home Video

Bobcat Perches Atop Saguaro

And ends like this . . . .

Dumpster-Scavenging Bear Attacks Woman

Whether displaced from fires, weather, suburban development, or any other outside force, predators in your neighborhood are not something to be taken lightly. Though they are fun to see and beautiful animals to watch, they deserve respect and should be given a wide berth. They do not care how much you love your Fluffy or your Fido or your son or daughter - they think only of their next meal and their survival. Respect them, or pay the price.

Arizona To Allow Hunting in City Limits

Thanks to SB 1334 and the hardwork of the Arizona Game and Fish Department, hunting will now be legal inside of Arizona city limits starting on July 20th. This is big news for predator hunters and small game hunters, who often seek to pursue their game near city limits or desire to do so within city limits. There are some special things to consider with this law, however:

- AZGFD commission rules can apply or limit the location, time, and manner of take.

- Certain state, county, and municipal parks may still be closed to hunting as defined by AZGFD commission rules.

- This will only apply to the use of shotgun, rimfire rifle, and archery tackle.

- This law will have a short life if it is abused by hunters.


This new law is yet another great gift from the state of Arizona in regards to firearm ownership, possession, and use. But like all gifts, it can be taken away if used improperly. The part I mentioned above about the law having a short life if abused is a quote taken directly from a law-enforcement official at AZGFD, whom I spoke with at length today.

Read the full law here: http://www.azleg.gov/legtext/50leg/1r/bills/sb1334p.pdf

Remember AZ hunters: this is a great opportunity for us to expand our hunting grounds, but it still doesn't give us the right to trespass on private property, be irresponsible with our shooting lanes, or to draw unnecessary attention to ourselves. Be smart, be responsible, and we'll keep this privilege.

And as always, Happy Hunting!

Off-season Scouting

The off-season: when I daydream about past hunts and predators in my crosshairs while trying to pass the time with that silly work-thing, eagerly awaiting the start of the new predator season!

But the off-season shouldn't just be a time for daydreams and wishful thinking. As I've written in the past, it's a great time to sharpen your shooting skills, check your gear, and investigate new areas. And while you're investigating new areas, here's what you should be looking for:

-Animal Sign: both predators and prey. You should be checking for fresh tracks, fresh scat, and investigating what's in the scat to see what's been on the menu lately. And is there a prey base to even attract predators? Set up game cams to get great pictures of animals as well as to see who's been hanging out in the area.

-Access: now's the time to break out the 4wd, quads, and hiking sticks to not only enjoy the summer weather, but also to find those little-known and hard-to-reach roads and trails into prime hunting country. Use forest service maps, local knowledge, and internet satellite images to find those secret entrances to great new locations.

-Private Land: warm summer months bring lots of work on ranches and farms, so it'll be easier to track down the landowner or head honcho and discuss your opportunity to help him thin his predator population. If he's slammed with work, see what you can do to help out - a little goodwill goes a long way.

-People Sign: is this an area that is heavily used by other people? Determine what kind of recreation they are doing in the area and whether or not it is seasonal. This will give you some knowledge of the kind of pressure this area may receive during hunting seasons. If you have the chance to talk to the people utilizing the area, they may also be able to give you information on predator movement and location.

-Public Announcements: I call this "no duh" scouting. A few years ago a friend and I were planning to hunt around the area near a small mountain town. We went to the local gas station for our champion's breakfast of Snickers bars and Mountain Dew, where we spotted a local announcements billboard. One side was pasted with 'Lost Pet' and 'Please Find Fluffy' flyers, and the other side had one single paper. It read something like this "Caution: coyote populations in the area are growing and these animals are growing more bold. Keep a close eye on small children and pets." Well "no duh" we knew we had hit the jackpot. A short conversation with a few locals and we headed off. Before lunch we had called in and killed 4 coyotes and 2 gray foxes.

The other day I was at a community center set in the hills at the edge of town and I ran across this little gem:



The location it mentions is inside of the city limits, but not by much. I checked out a few stand locations within legal hunting and trapping requirements and they look pretty darn good - even ran across some scat. So come November when the bobcat fur is worth some good money, you can bet I'll be visiting this area with calls or with traps - where there's one bobcat, there's more.

My main point to this post is this: the off-season can be a great time for fishing, relaxing, hanging out with the family, enjoying the sunshine, and just generally having a good ol' time. But while you're out and about enjoying the beautiful summer months, don't forget to keep your eyes open for good predator locations. You just never know where you'll find your next 'honey hole'!

More Skulls!

"What do you keep in those plastic containers?" It's a question I get asked every time someone goes into my garage. Or sometimes it's "What's that smell?" Either way, the answer is "Flesh-eating beetles." Now this gets a good number of odd looks and sideways glances, but no one can resist the temptation to look a little closer. This usually leads to a full explanation of why I have them, what they are, and what they can do. A quick walk inside the house to the 'animal room' and it becomes clear to everyone just how incredible these little dermestid beetles are, and what an interesting process these animal heads go through to become a bright white skull.

Back in 2009 I wrote a blog entry about my skull work, but since it's been awhile I thought we'd revisit the topic. Most of the skulls that I clean throughout the year are for other hunters, some of them from the other side of the country. I have cleaned Oregon bears, Maryland beavers, Colorado foxes, Georgia coyotes, and Minnesota bobcats. And of course I have cleaned up quite a few animals from right here in beautiful Arizona!

Below you'll find a few pictures of some of the more recent skulls that I have cleaned up, and if you go all the way to bottom and click on the picture of the dermestid beetles, you can visit a picture album with even more bright white skulls! I've even started painting a few, just to see what how they come out and what people have to say about them.


Montana beaver


Arizona javelina


Arizona gray foxes - one of them with a little 'camo' paint


Another Arizona gray fox with experiments in paint


One of the most beautiful Arizona mule deer I've done yet


Dermestid beetles - adult and larvae
Click on them for more skull pictures!

Curious Bear

I often get asked what it is I do that helps me to get so many predators every season, especially at the close distances I generally shoot them at. The answer is generally the same: I utilize the basics. I choose stands based on terrain and animal activity, I move as quietly as I can, and I stay still once I get to the stand. Many hunters want some kind of high-speed, low-drag answer - some kind of secret ingredient. While there are a few things that I do to ensure my success, it's the basics of predator hunting that will put fur in front of you.

The guy in the following video isn't predator calling, but it really shows how keeping still and staying quiet can bring the animals in close; in this case almost too close.

Click here to watch the video: http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=134_1288992280

Predator Xtreme - Accuracy Training Article

This month in Predator Xtreme you'll find a few really good articles, including tips on calling bears and radical tactics for coyotes. You'll also find my article entitled "Get Your Hits!" It's about accuracy training and how to make sure that when predators show up to your stand that they don't leave breathing.

Not a subscriber to Predator Xtreme magazine? Subscribe here.

Recreational shooting is a lot of fun, and can be a great way to enjoy the outdoors and even blow off some steam. When you decide to train, however, you should train with a purpose - in this case it's putting more fur on the ground. Setup your "Predator Practice" with as much realism as you can and you'll not only enjoy it, but it will build shooting skills that will pay off when you need them most.

If you're interested in quality firearms training, whether for hunting or for self-defense, contact me through my training organization, Independence Firearms Training. We train primarily private individuals and groups, and we are available to travel anywhere in the United States.


And since my season has died down, here's a picture from the files of yesterday. I shot this coyote a few years ago from a standing offhand position at about 60 yards - my calling partner, Rich Higgins, hadn't even seen the coyote yet when I took the shot. Practice pays off!